Dehradun. After the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 156 refugees living in Uttarakhand have got Indian citizenship. These include Hindu-Sikh refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Recently, the Union Home Ministry has approved the applications of all these after investigation.
145 refugees from Dehradun and Rishikesh have benefited the most. Of these, 21 people have also received their certificates, while the rest are waiting for the certificate. It is worth noting that the CAA made in the year 2020 was implemented across the country in March this year. A large number of Hindu and Sikh refugees were living in Uttarakhand since the time of India-Pakistan partition.
Like thousands of other refugees, they were also waiting for citizenship. The largest number is in the capital itself. Efforts were made by Seema Jagran Manch and Hindu Jagran Manch to get these people Indian citizenship. Colonel (Retd.) Ajay Kothiyal, a member of Seema Jagran Manch, said that recently the organization had sent applications of 156 refugees from across the state to the Union Home Ministry.
These included seven Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan. They had come to India about 34 years ago due to fear of Taliban, while 149 refugees from Pakistan were included. Most of them were living in the state since the time of partition. Kothiyal said that after the necessary process, the applications of all these have been approved by the Union Home Ministry.
21 of these people have also downloaded their certificates. Data of such refugees living in other places of the state is also being collected. After a long fight, now after getting Indian citizenship, relief is visible on the faces of these families.
This is how the process is done
Colonel Kothiyal said that first the district level committee discusses the applications of the refugees. Later, intelligence investigation is conducted. After getting the no objection certificate from intelligence, the next and final process is the interview. After this, a decision is taken on the approval or rejection of the applications. Finally, after getting the approval, the individual has to download the certificate.
People living in these districts got citizenship
Dehradun – 145
Haridwar – 02
Uttarkashi – 01
Tehri – 01
